In an earlier post I mentioned the power of hugs and smiles. In this one I want to bring up the power of passing on smiles to all you see as well as how smiling affects you. How many times have we been down and then one person would simply smile at us and it raised our spirits. There is both a psychological and physiological aspects to a smile.
Ever since French anatomist, Guillaume Duchenne, did his work on smiles in the 19th Century, there have been many studies on that very subject. Duchenne surmised that there’s a difference between a smile that is genuine and one that is faked. He also ascertained that our emotions showed in our facial expressions. Then in 1924, a psychology student from the University of Minnesota by the name of Carney Landis, conducted a study that showed otherwise. For many decades psychologists believed the results of this study.
In the 1970’s, psychology researchers, Paul Ekman and Wallace Friesen, revised Duchenne’s work and were able to prove his theories. They even go further in showing that humans have “micro-expressions” regarding different emotions. They are so subtle, that it takes a keen eye to recognize it, though most people do it on a subconscious level.
In a 1983 study, Ekman, Le Friesen, long with Robert Levenson, discovered through research that the simple act of making physiological changes that mimic emotions (including smiling), led to an emotional response of the same. The physical action created an autonomic nervous system (ANS) response. Here’s something for you to do: Create a genuine smile on all parts of your face, including your eyes. And the see if you can feel sad. You can’t. Your ANS activated the happiness response due to your smile.
Going further, a study in 2000 by Dimberg, Thunberg, and Elmehed, showed that people will have a similar emotional response to the person they are observing. When we smile, others will smile too. That is especially true when the smile is genuine. Go ahead and give the gift of a genuine smile.
A smile costs you nothing and yet, it will bring more to the receiver and you than any other gift you can buy. And it is a gift that once received, has the ability to multiply many times over. A smile brings with it many benefits:
- An increased immune system
- Lower blood pressure
- Stress reduction
- Releases the “feel-good” chemicals, such as endorphins and serotonin
- Increases longevity
- Increases attractiveness
- Increases earnings
- Helps one to let go of pain
- Increases trustworthiness
Those are but a few benefits you will enjoy when smiling. Get up each morning and smile for a minute or so. Do it as you welcome each new day. Stretch your arms out and smile. Smile each time you come across someone. Simply simile to help boost their mood too. When you feel down, smile. When your energy feels low, smile. Make a concerted decision to smile as much as possible. Whether you are alone or with others, smile. Smile at work or at home. Smile at the park, at the beach, everywhere! Simply smile!
Smiles,
Bob
